MEMPHIS | The University of Alabama in Huntsville women's tennis team had a strong start to conference play on Friday, rolling past Delta State 5-2 before battling to a gutsy 5-3 win over Christian Brothers. UAH improves to 3-1 overall and opens Gulf South Conference action at 2-0.
 
In the match against Delta State, UAH started off with a 3-0 lead after sweeping the doubles points.
 
Cristina Cabanas and Mariana Lopez teamed up at the third position for an easy 8-2 win, while Sarah Stearman and Stefanie Mehlich were 8-4 winners at the top spot. At the No. 2 position, Marilene van Beek and Monika Polakovic claimed an 8-6 win.
 
In singles play, van Beek rolled to a 6-1, 6-1 victory at the fourth position, and a 6-1, 6-1 win from Lopez at the No. 6 gave UAH its fifth point and sealed the match.
 
Other victories in the contest came from Mehlich at the top position where she won 6-3, 6-0 and from Cabanas who rebounded from falling 6-1 in her opener at the No. 2 to win the second 7-5 before her opponent retired in the third.
 
Against Christian Brothers, the Chargers would claim two of the three doubles points with Cabanas and Lopez securing the point at the No. 3 8-3, while Stearman and Mehlich won 8-5 at the first position.
 
In singles, the Chargers faced an uphill climb with a shorthanded roster due to injuries, but the team would pick up three wins to earn the victory.
 
At the top spot, Cabanas won 6-3, 2-6, 10-7, while Stearman picked up a 6-4, 7-5 win at the No. 2.
 
Lopez again provided the clinching point, winning 6-1, 6-3 at the No. 4.
 
UAH returns to action next Friday, taking on Birmingham Southern on the road. That contest is slated for a 2 p.m. start.